Posted on 05/08/2003 5:17:27 PM PDT by William McKinley
Religion is different things in different places, but mainly it is a practice and set of beliefs that the locals have in common, that bind them together. That's what the word means--binding things together.
Something like marching orders only more stationary:>)
As I recall, one chapter or lecture centers it in "Redeeming the Time" around his true hopeful belief in the future. It is one of my favorite passages.
Likewise, I am reminded that in the Politics of Prudence, published shortly after this lecture, Kirk summarized ten conservative principles instead of his usual six. When he did so, he left the door of his first principle much wider:
"First, the conservative believes that there exists an enduring moral order. That order is made for man, and man is made for it; human nature is a constant, and moral truths are permanent."This doesn't contain the capitalized "Transcendant" he typically used. Why? My belief is that in the confidence and reflection of his later years, while still a champion personally of Belief, he saw the whole of conservatism with a broader definition than he had as a young man.
Perhaps I am wrong in this opinion of his wording, but I find it of use to all conservatives today in making common cause such as on this forum.
"First, the conservative believes that there exists an enduring moral order. That order is made for man, and man is made for it; human nature is a constant, and moral truths are permanent."I like this much better.
That "R.N." actually stands for "Reference Ne-plus-ultra," doesn't it?
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